How to Start a Travel Blog in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Remember that installing too many plugins can damage your slow down the website and negatively impact user experience. So be sure to choose carefully.

6. Set up pages

Another essential element of a travel blog are the websites. Although there is no hard and fast rule, a travel blog usually has the following content:

• Homepage. To make a good first impression, it should immediately inform visitors about the site’s travel blogging niche.
• About the site. Describe the goals, values ​​and mission of the blog. To further connect with readers, show off your picture and share compelling stories on how to create a travel blog.
• Contact us page. Provide your contact information so travel companies can offer partnerships.
• Blog page. Offer travel blogging tips, travel destination recommendations, and travel gear reviews. When setting up a blog page, be sure to add the query loop block so the content updates automatically.

Many travel blogs also add custom pages to allow users to quickly navigate through content. For example, Expert Vagabond has sections like “Destinations”, “Journeys” and “Nomadic Life”. These pages link to other articles within the same category.

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To create a page, log in to the WordPress admin dashboard and follow these steps:

1. In in the left sidebar, Go to Pages → Add New.
2. Once the block editor appears, enter the title of the page.
3. Add blocks from the library to create different types of content and widgets.
4. Change the URL to your liking in the right sidebar.
5. If you When you’re done, select Publish.

To show specific pages in the site’s navigation menu, change the navigation block. Here’s how:

1. Go to View → Editor.
2. Once the block editor appears, click Plus icon in the top left.
3. Go to Blocks and search for Navigation.
4. Add the pages you want to show in the menu.

7. Publish your first blog posts

After setting up the WordPress website, it’s time to start attracting new readers through blog posts. Start by deciding on a topic, writing quality content, and setting a publication schedule.

Set Blog Topic

Before writing blog content, is it is important to select topics that are relevant to the target group. A good place to start is to identify their interests and pain points.

Do a keyword research with tools like Ahrefs. Just go to Keywords Explorer, type in your travel niche and the tool will bring up a list of popular keywords.

If your budget is tight, use free tools like Answer Der Public and Keyword Surfer.

When choosing a topic, we recommend low-competition and long-tail keywords over those with extremely high search volume. That way, your new travel blog has a better chance of ranking high in search engine results pages (SERPs).

For example, it will be easier to rank for “best budget hotels in Hawaii” rather than just “best hotels”.

Write quality content

Once you’ve decided on the topic, start writing a blog post. There are several content types to consider:

• Travel Guides. Offer tips to help readers make the most of their trips. Depending on the niche, content ideas include “Best time to visit Paris” and “5 things to prepare before hiking.”
• Recommendations. Provide a list of the best travel destinations, accommodation, equipment, attractions and local souvenirs.
• Reviews. Write detailed reviews of your hotel stays or restaurant visits. This allows readers to make informed decisions before visiting these places.
• Industry Reviews. Whether you do your own research or compile statistics from various sources, industry reports give the blog more authority.
• Monetization tips. Most aspiring travel bloggers are looking for ways to make money online. Therefore, offering monetization tips will help your blog resonate better with readers. A great example of content is “How to make money as a travel blogger.”

To create a blog post, log in to the WordPress dashboard and go to Posts → Add new. After that, follow these methods to create quality content:

• Create a clear structuree. Outlines help you organize the structure of the content, focus on the topic, and avoid writer’s block. It provides a clear roadmap to speed up the writing process.
• Optimize for search engines. Implement SEO best practices for WordPress to increase the chances of ranking high on Google. Instantly answer the audience’s search intent and optimize the article with relevant keywords.
• Use an SEO plugin. Setting up Yoast SEO helps for on-page content optimization. Once activated, the plugin appears at the bottom of the block editor and offers SEO tools and real-time suggestions.
• Add visual elements. Whether you use original images or stock photos, visual elements help authors break up text and enhance the reading experience. Some visitors also prefer watching videos to reading text, so embedding one in the article is a good practice.
• Review and edit the article. Once finished, carefully edit and proofread your article. Don’t hesitate to make significant changes, e.g. For example, rearranging the structure for a better flow or deleting bloated sections to improve readability.

If you’re starting a travel blog, don’t worry about your writing skills and industry expertise. By creating blog posts regularly, you will eventually acquire the skills and knowledge required.

Set up scheduled post publishing

The key to being a successful blogger is well-planned content strategy and consistent posting .

By default, users can schedule WordPress posts at a specific time and date via the Gutenberg block editor:

1. Click the gear icon in in the upper-right corner.
2. On the Post tab, next to Publish, select Immediately.
3. Schedule Publish based on your preferred time and date.

However, this built-in function has several limitations. One is that you can only schedule one blog post at a time.

WordPress also relies on page loads to trigger automated tasks. In other words, no scheduled posts will be published if nobody visits your site at the scheduled time.

To publish articles in bulk and avoid WordPress schedule errors, install WordPress plugins like SchedulePress. The editorial calendar allows users to easily schedule hundreds of posts. The tool also searches for missed articles and publishes them automatically.

8. Promote and Grow Your Audience

To become a successful travel blogger, publishing articles is just the beginning – promoting your website is also important. This step is all about driving traffic to your travel blog and getting people to read its content.

Here are the most common ways to market a blog and grow its reader base:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Optimizing travel website for Google is one of the best ways to promote it for free. Using plugins like Yoast SEO to target specific keywords can help articles rank higher, increasing the chances of attracting new readers.
• Social Media Marketing. Share your blog posts on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Every platform has its strengths. For example, Twitter is great for word of mouth marketing campaigns, while Instagram and Pinterest are more suited to visual content.
• Email Marketing.Email marketing allows bloggers to reach their audience through personalized messages. Build a subscriber list by inviting people to sign up for your newsletter. To convince them, offer exclusive content like eBooks as an incentive.
• Write guest posts. Guest posting is a great way to get backlinks for your website, thereby increasing its credibility on a particular topic.
• Join travel forums and communities. Build connections with other travel bloggers and industry leaders by joining travel communities. However, be sure to abide by the forums’ rules – some don’t allow self-promotion.
• Pay-per-click ads. If you’re looking for a short-term solution, paid advertising is a great option. First, sign up for platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads.

Experiment with different approaches to find the right ones. While there are many ways to market your travel blog, focus on just a few. Running 2 great marketing campaigns is better than 10 bad ones.

Connect to Google Analytics

Measure the success of marketing campaigns with tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4). It allows you to analyze traffic metrics and measure blog growth.

To connect a WordPress website to Google Analytics 4, first create a new account:

1. Access the Google Analytics 4 home page, click Start Now and sign in with your Google account.
2. In Account Setup an account name. Under Account data sharing settings, select the Google products and services check box.
3. Click Next to create a new property. Enter the property name and select the time zone and currency.
4. Go to the next screen and enter your property details such as industry category and size.
5. Click Create and a Terms of Service window will appear. Select I accept to complete the setup.
6. Once the dashboard appears, go to Admin→ Property → Data Streams → Add Stream and select Web.
7. Enter your website address and create a stream name.

1. Finally, click Create stream.

After that, install the MonsterInsights plugin to access Google Analytics 4 from the WordPress dashboard.

9. Make money from your travel blog

Once the travel blog has enough traffic, there are many ways to monetize it. Some people may even quit their job and become full-time travel bloggers.

Here are some common ways to make money blogging:

• Advertising. Place ads on the travel blog by opting in to advertising networks like Google Adsense, Mediavine and Ezoic. Some platforms may require websites to reach a certain number of visitors before they can register.
• Affiliate links. Become an affiliate of brands or e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon. You get a commission every time someone clicks on the affiliate link and makes a purchase. Popular affiliate networks include ShareaSale and SkimLinks.
• Sponsored Posts. Reach out to brands and pitch article ideas to see if they’re interested in sponsored posts. Alternatively, join influencer networks like Mavrck and Linqia.
• Paid press trips. After gaining enough traction, tourism boards and PR firms may invite you to visit specific destinations with all costs covered. In return, you must promote these places through articles and social media posts.
• Exclusive content. Sell premium content such as eBooks, courses, merchandise and photo editing filters.

It takes most bloggers at least a year before they start making any online income. So be patient and keep working towards your goals.

10. Take blogging courses to scale your website even further

To become a successful travel blogger, taking online courses is essential. It allows you to gain insights from industry experts and study proven strategies.

Here are some of the best blogging courses to consider:

• Blogging Masterclass : How to Create a Successful Blog In 2021. A beginner-friendly program that covers basic to advanced blogging strategies, from finding a niche to making money blogging. It’s $149.99 for lifetime access, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Superstar Blogging by Nomadic Matt. Hosted by Nomadic Matt, this $99 course provides effective strategies for building a successful travel blog from the ground up. With over 14 years of experience in the field, it’s safe to say that Matt knows the ins and outs of travel blogging.
• Complete SEO course for beginners from Ahrefs.This free course helps users optimize their website through keyword research, link building, email targeting, and technical SEO best practices.
• Make Affiliate Marketing Sense. Sign up for this program for $197 and learn how to monetize your travel blog through affiliate marketing strategies.
• Social Media Marketing Mastery. For $149.99, users get actionable tips to run quality ads and make money on social media platforms. These include Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
• Blog Growth Engine by Adam Enfroy. This travel blogging course focuses on content creation, personal branding, and website monetization. It includes one-on-one sessions with an experienced coach to guide you. However, lifetime access costs $3,900, which is higher than most programs.

Conclusion

Successful travel bloggers explore the world, share theirs experiences and attract readers while monetizing their content. No wonder so many people are interested in becoming one.

While exciting, starting a travel blog can also be intimidating, especially since the industry is pretty saturated. Follow these best practices to start a successful travel blog:

1. Choose a niche and memorable blog name to establish a strong market position.
2. Buy a domain name , sign up for a web hosting service, and install WordPress.
3. Define the blog’s brand identity with a logo, slogan, and consistent visual design.
4. Customize the WordPress website by choosing a suitable theme, installing the necessary plugins and setting up the pages.
5. Attract new readers by publishing regular blog posts and promoting the website across different platforms. This includes social media, email, and travel blogging communities.
6. Once the travel blog has enough traffic, monetize it with affiliate links, ads, sponsored posts, and exclusive content. Take travel blogging classes to grow the site even more.

Good luck starting your own travel blog! We wish you an exciting journey. If you have more questions, check out our FAQ below.

How to start a travel blog FAQ

Here are answers to common travel blogging questions.

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